A father-of-two has died in a crash just a year after his “childhood sweetheart” – and the mother of his children – was killed while taking her motorcycling test.
Last night Eoin MacDonald, 38, was described as an “exceptional young man” by locals in his hometown of St Cyrus.
Mr MacDonald was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash involving his Triumph motorcycle and a red Seat Alhambra car on the A92 Stonehaven to Montrose road on Sunday night.
The 57-year-old driver of the car – who is understood to live at the nearby St Cyrus Caravan Park – was taken to Ninewells Hospital in Dundee with non-life threatening injuries.
The tragedy happened a little more than a year after Mr MacDonald’s ex-wife LynseyCargill, 35, died on the B954 Meigle to Dundee road when the motorcycle she was riding collided with a Ford Focus.
Ms Cargill, originally of Johnshaven, was sitting her Compulsory Basic Training (CBT) test when the crash took place on February 24, 2014.
The couple are survived by their two young children, Eoghan and Eilidh.
Mr MacDonald was a contracts manager for Laurencekirk-based Peterkin Homes, having started his working life as a joiner.
A close friend, who asked not to be named, said he was a popular member of the community, who had helped to set up the St Cyrus Gala the day before his death.
She said: “Lynsey and Eoin were childhood sweethearts at school and he wanted to keep riding his bike to prove to the children that what happened to Lynsey was an accident and doesn’t happen to everyone.
“He was just an exceptional young man and such a good dad. It is just absolutely awful for those poor children, such a tragic loss.
“He was a great joiner and a problem solver. If you had a problem Eoin could solve it and would always help you if you were stuck.
“Eoin was one of these people running flat out everywhere because he always had so much to do. He was a full time parent and working full time.
“He was a happy-go-lucky man and so good with people, he will be sadly missed by everyone who ever met him.
“It is just tragic. He was a fantastic person.”
Another St Cyrus local added: “I felt so heartbroken for the children. It is so sad when there are children involved.”
Managing director of Peterkin Homes, Vic Peterkin, worked with Mr MacDonald for 15 years and said the team had lost “a dear friend”.
He said: “We at Peterkin Homes are all truly devastated at the loss of Eoin.
“Eoin was hugely liked and well respected by colleagues, customers and suppliers. More than that he was our dear friend.
“Our hearts and sympathies go to his young children. We all feel the loss of Eoin enormously, but that is not even on a par with what his family will feel. He really was central to us.”
Police, fire and rescue and ambulance services attended the crash – which happened at around 7pm on Sunday, and closed the road for around six hours while investigations were carried out.
His death was the fourth on Aberdeenshire’s roads this month, and came only six days after a 48-year-old woman died when her car came off the A92 near Inverbervie.
Mearns councillor George Carr said: “It is a real tragedy for the family and his friends and work colleagues. My heart goes out to them. It is very much a close-knit community there.
“Something like this reverberates throughout the Mearns.”